Les Yarse du royaume de Ouagadougou: l'écrit et l'oral

The Yarse of Wagadugu kingdom: written and oral sources.- The Yarse form a special distinct group or stratum among the Wagadugu Mosi, distinguished by their religion -- Islam --, their occupation -- the caravan trade -- and their privileged position within the political system. According to oral traditions (as well as to the observations of most foreign anthropologists) the Yarse lineages originally came from the Mande area; they changed their language to Moore after settling down in the kingdom and intermarrying with nakombse (noble) Mosi lineages. However a closer analysis of lineage histories suggests that a number of them are in fact "Yarseized" Mosi. Integration into the Yarse group, ostensibly manifested by conversion to Islam, can be more readily explained in economic and occupational terms. Further research should bear on special Yarse festivals, marriage prohibitions and preferential alliances between Yarse lineages, and socially significant rites, in order to achieve a better knowledge of the group as such.